Security surveillance system and method of operating same

Abstract

A security surveillance system having a support, a surveillance device mounted on the support, and a cover assembly. The cover assembly is movable selectively relative to the support between an access state and an operative state. In the access state, at least a first operating state of the surveillance device can be changed by an operator at or in the vicinity of the surveillance device. In the operative state, the cover assembly blocks access by an operator. The cover assembly has a first component and the support has a second component. The first and second components are mutually attracted to each other.

1. A security surveillance system comprising:
 a support; 
 a surveillance device mounted on the support; and 
 a cover assembly, 
 the cover assembly comprising a shield member with a convex shape having an outer periphery and a flange that extends around and outwardly from the periphery of the convex shape, 
 the cover assembly changeable selectively between: a) an access state wherein at least a first operating state of the surveillance device can be changed by an operator at, or in the vicinity of, the surveillance device; and b) an operative state wherein the cover assembly blocks access by an operator as would permit changing of the first operating state by an operator at or in the vicinity of the surveillance device, 
 the cover assembly having a first component and the support having a second component, 
 the first component residing substantially fully outside of the periphery of the convex shape, the first and second components mutually attracted to each other and located so that an operator can move at least a part of the cover assembly with the cover assembly in the access state in: a) a first path in a first direction as an incident of which the cover assembly is caused to be placed in the operative state and maintained in the operative state by a first attractive force between the first and second components; and b) the first path in a direction opposite to the first direction with the cover assembly in the operative state, at least initially under a force greater than the first force to thereby change the cover assembly from the operative state into the access state. 
 
     
     
       2. The security surveillance system according to  claim 1  wherein one of the first and second components comprises a magnetized material and the other of the first and second components is one of: a) a magnetized material; and b) a metallic material. 
     
     
       3. The security surveillance system according to  claim 1  wherein with the cover assembly in the access state, the at least part of the cover assembly is fully separated from the support. 
     
     
       4. The security surveillance system according to  claim 3  further comprising a tether for connecting the at least part of the cover assembly to the support with the cover assembly in the access state. 
     
     
       5. The security surveillance system according to  claim 1  wherein the support comprises a wall and a bracket assembly on the wall. 
     
     
       6. The security surveillance system according to  claim 1  wherein the surveillance device comprises a camera. 
     
     
       7. The security surveillance system according to  claim 1  wherein the at least part of the cover assembly is movable in substantially a straight line in the first path. 
     
     
       8. The security surveillance system according to  claim 1  wherein the cover assembly has a third component that resides substantially fully outside of the periphery of the convex shape and the support has a fourth component, the third and fourth components mutually attracted to each other and located so that the cover assembly is maintained in the operative state cooperatively by the first attractive force and a second attractive force between the third and fourth components, wherein the first and third components are discrete components that are spaced fully from each other by a substantial distance around the periphery of the convex shape. 
     
     
       9. The security surveillance system according to  claim 8  wherein the third and fourth components are caused to be attracted to each other as an incident of the at least part of the cover assembly being moved in the first path in the first direction with the cover assembly initially in the access state and the security surveillance system further comprises angular aligning components on the cover assembly and support that cooperate to facilitate angular alignment of the cover assembly and support so that the first and second and third and fourth components can attract each other. 
     
     
       10. The security surveillance system according to  claim 1  wherein the shield member has opposite first and second sides, the first side is exposed to the surveillance device, and the shield member obstructs viewing of the surveillance device from at the second side of the shield member. 
     
     
       11. The security surveillance system according to  claim 10  wherein the shield member has a rounded shape at the second side. 
     
     
       12. The security surveillance system according to  claim 11  wherein the cover assembly comprises a separate collar that extends around the shield member and the first component is on the collar. 
     
     
       13. The security surveillance system according to  claim 12  wherein the support comprises a wall and a bracket on the wall and the second component is on the bracket. 
     
     
       14. The security surveillance system according to  claim 13  wherein the bracket comprises an elongate tubular element. 
     
     
       15. The security surveillance system according to  claim 5  wherein the support comprises a housing defining a receptacle for the surveillance device. 
     
     
       16. The security surveillance system according to  claim 15  wherein the receptacle is spaced from the wall.